Honk: Fore the record on golf carts

Q. On several occasions I have seen a golf cart on public streets driven by an adult with two or more young children on board; some children sit at the back facing the motorists followingthem. This morning, there was a young driver behind them. The children on the back of the golf cart were waving her to go past them, but she did not have the confidence to do so. Does the golf cart driver have to have a driver's license and insurance?

– Mark Lucy, Laguna Niguel

A. Sounds like the putt-putt ought to stay closer to the putting greens.

Under the law, golf carts have to stay off of public streets. Now, under some circumstances, they can be converted into a "low-speed vehicle," said Deputy Paul Villeneuve, of the Orange County Sheriff's Department's Traffic Division. To do so, they need upgrades including seatbelts.

At that point, the driver would have to be licensed and have insurance ... and the golf cart would need to be registered and carry a license plate, which Mark told Honk he didn't spot on that cart. Such modified carts can only go on streets with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less.

There is also a street-legal vehicle called a neighborhood electric vehicle, which looks like a space-age golf cart.

Q. We are relatively new to California. We would take the 261/241 toll roads more often if we didn't have to pay the $5 toll to get to most places. Those roads are always empty.ï¿½ Why aren't the tolls reduced to encourage more people to take those routes and relieve some of the congestion on the 5 freeway? Will those roads always be toll roads?

– Jill Kostrinsky, Tustin

A. Well, Jill, let's just say if you keep using the toll roads, plan on handing over more Lincolns.

Those were built using funds rounded up by selling bonds, which have to be paid back by tolls. Politicians sit on the governing board and decide the toll amounts. The entire system, which includes the 73, has 250,000 motorists a weekday.

"A number of factors go into determining specific toll rates including time of day, day of week, type of payment and an interest in both meeting financial obligations and providing a valuable alternative to freeways and surface streets," said Lori Olin, a spokeswoman for those toll roads. "Once the bonds are repaid, the plan is to lift the tolls."

The 241's bonds are expected to be paid off in 2040, with bills for the other major toll road overseen by the same staffers, the 73, being satisfied two years later.